Preregistering of plates by projection of register marks



Feb. 9, 1954 P. 1.. TOLLISON ETAL PREREGISTERING OF PLATES BY PROJECTION OF REGISTER MARKS 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2'7, 1948 0 M 5 5m 5 R Y m w y m W 1 MM A Z OM Feb. 9, 1954 P. L. TOLLISON ET AL PREREGISTERING OF PLATES BY PROJECTION OF REGISTER MARKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1948 I LIT- fi I lllll LNM Qm'4 M, h@r-M ATTORNEYS 1 4 P. L. TOLUSON ET Al. 2,668,346

PREREGISTERING OF PLATES BY PROJECTION OF REGISTER MARKS Filed April 27, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 g7 J8. NVENTORi";

ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1954 P. L. TOLLISON ET AL PREREGISTERING OF PLATES BY PROJECTION OF REGISTER MARKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 27, 1948 \gg a Feb. 9, 1954 P. L. TOLLISON ET AL 2,668,346

PREREGISTERTNG OF PLATES BY PROJECTION OF REGISTER MARKS Filed April 27, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5 PAUL 4. Tau /50/v A BC'Yf/flfFZEJ L fi/m/fas ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1954 PREREGISTER-ING OF PLATES BY PROJEC- TION OE REGISTER MARKS Paul L. Tollison, North Plainfield, and Charles L. Ricards, South Plainfield, N. J., assignors to Wood Newspaper Machinery Corporation, Plainfield, J., a corporation of Virginia Application April 27, 1948, SerialNo'. 23,444

9' Claims.

invention relates to improved apparatus for: registering and trimming curved stereotype printing plates for use in rotary printing presses. color printing; a plurality of plates are used to: print each out, each of the several plates being inked with a different color; Unless such plates are. in exact. registry with each other; multiple impressions, blurring and ofi-color images are produced in the. printed reproduction. To avoid these d-miculties, it: has: been proposed to. preform registry marks near the corner of each plate, to bring one platerto a position in which its. register marks: are approximately aligned with. mechani-- cal pointers held in fixect position, totrimthe edges of that. plate.- and then to: successively reg ister the other plates; turn with the same pointers; and trimsuchother plates. Machines: previously: proposed for the purpose explainedv have. incorporated. plate: mechanismsfor trimnnng-three. edges; of the plate while it: enclosed beneathv a. removable cover" in a compartment. Enclosure of the plate: is essential to prevent the throwing: of metal: chips durtrimming. The compartment cover must be readily openable to permit access to; the plate for 1 settin it registry with the mechanical pointers. 'Ifhe pointers" on. such known machines oomnrise pivoted rods. withpointed ends that. can he swung dose: to: the plate surface: to permit ade jnstment on the-plate: an position. in which the! plate: register marks are: substantially aligned with the pointer ends. After registry, the. point ltfl: have to be;- swung baclr away" from; the: plate to permit closing: of the compartment cover pree L minary' tir trimming; This" arrangement neces:-- sit-ates bringing; the: pointer ends: so close. to. the: platessurface astovirtuaHtr-tonchitinaecurate settina due: tm errors arisin from n mll r he be avoided. 'L'ha operator must: take. eare: to: avoidscratching ofthe: plate with the; pointer endsand to: manually swing; the: pointers backttr a. retracted: position. before closing the; cover; Glosing: of the; cover without first swinging all: pointers back: disturbs the-platesetting and damages; the plate. and? failure to accurately return: the pointers to their original: register setting over. an: nut-rimmed plate results; in; inaccuratev register: A machine? of. the. typeagenerally' do. scribed is disclosed,- in United States; lPa-tentNo.v 2A25..5B0..

Known plate. registering and? marehlnes oftvpeareierredrto have no: stops: for locating the-plate longitudlnallybnthe machine; cylinder which oarriesetheeplatezwhile itv is. being brrmght. into registry:- and trimmed:

curved end e'dges'of the plate are trimmed, so that stops engaging these edges would foul the trimming cutters as the plate moves relative thereto. The present invention has for its object the provision of an improved machine for registering and trimming curved printing plates which avoids the shortcomings of previously known machines by providing means for projecting index marks directly on the surface of the plate. The marks are projected by suitable projector units, each including a light source and provided with adjustable mountings which permit adjustment of projector units longitudinally and circumferen tially of the plate". The mountings move the units parallel to the plate surface so that the projected images remain in focus at the plate surface regardless of movement of the units. The projector units are. located outside of. the machine compartment and clear of the path oi its cover in all adjusted positions, so that the units need not be moved; to permit closing. or opening of the cover. Since the projector units project light beams carrying images of crossed lines or other suitable marks directly onthe itsposition of registry. The improved stopmoves away tromthe plate edge atthe start of plate movement relative to the trimming cutter so that arr angular plate edge: does not bind against the stop during trimming;

In describing the invention in detail, reierenee will? be made. to the accompanying drawings which an embodiment of the improved machine is illustrated. In the drawings;

Fig. 1: is a side elevation of aplate' registering and trimming machine mechanism. embodying the" invention;

Fig. 2- is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig; 1';

Fig. 3 is a-sectionat view taken along the line- 3-3 of? Fig. 1' and: viewed in the direction of the arrows;

' Fig; 4 is. a; sectional view on anenlarged scale taken along the linerl l of- Fig. 3;

I Figs: 5- and 6 are respectively sectional views Botlnofithea 5 taken along the lines 5 5 and- 6--6" oi Fig: 4*;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the interior of the mechanism compartment of the machine taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the plate stop mechanism;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the plate stop operating cam, taken along the line I-I 0 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the plate stop mechanism taken along the line I II I of Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 1, the disclosed machine includes a frame F having a mechanism compartment I2 at its upper end. The left hand end of the compartment I2, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, constitutes the front of the machine Where the operator stands and where the controls are located.

The compartment I2 contains a printing plate carrying cylinder I! that surrounds and is carried by a carrier I8 (Fig. 3) together with mechanism for adjusting the cylinder circumferentially relative to the carrier and axially of the compartment with the carrier, and mechanism for trimming both end edges and one side edge of a semicylindrical printing plate carried by the cylinder.

The particular mechanism employed to clamp the plate on the cylinder I1, to adjustably move the cylinder I1 and the carrier I8 and to perform the plate edge trimming operations will not be described in detail. Such mechanism is described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,425,580. For

an understanding of the present invention, it is sufficient to explain the general operation of such mechanism.

The plate 21 is clamped in position on the cylinder IT by straps 30 lined with felt pads 3|, and the straps are moved between plate clamping and releasing positions by manipulation of a hand crank 39 which acts through a shaft 40, a crank II, a crank 46, a shaft 43, pinions 45 and 44, a shaft 35 and cranks 34 connected to the straps 30 (Fig. 7). The pin and lug connection 42, 41, between the cranks 4| and 46 is so arranged as to be completed when the cylinder I1 is in its starting position, and the lugs 41 can move away from the pin 42 when the cylinder I1 rotates. Longitudinal adjustment of the cylinder I1 and the carrier I8 axially of the cylinder is effected by rotation of the hand wheel 10. Circumferential adjustment of the cylinder I1 relative to the carrier I8 is effected by rotation of th hand wheel 53. A pair of spaced cutters I2 trim the curved end edges of the plate 2'! as the cylinder I! is rotated, and these cutters are driven from a suitable motor through the shaft I3, the pulley I5 and the belts I I I. The cylinder I1 together with its carrier I8 is rotated to efiect such trimming by manually turning a counterweighted crank I03 which drives a shaft QM through beveled gears I5 and I6 (Figs. 1 and 2). The shaft I04 carries a pinion I (I5 that engages a gear 95 that is in turn connected to rotate the carrier I8. Such rotation of the carrier and the cylinder moves a plate edge trimming cutter '1 longitudinally of the plate 21 through a screw 82 driven by the rotation of the carrier I8 relative to an internal gear 93 which is fixed against rotation. The cutter I1 is separately driven through the gears 83 and 84. the shaft 85 and the pulley 9|. A stop 29 fixed to the cylinder I1 abuts the side edge of the plate 2'! opposite that being trimmed by the cutter I1.

A cover II is hingedly secured to the mechanism compartment I2 at III) and is provided with a counter-weight H2. A stop II3 limits the opening movement of the cover. The cover II closes the mechanism compartment I2 when the machine is operated to trim a plate, and so prevents throwing of metal chips out of the machine. The cover is shown in full lines in its closed positions in Figs. 1 and '7, and in its open position in Fig. 3. It is shown in broken lines and in its closed position in Fig. 3 and in its open position in Fig. 1.

A crank I02 on the front of the mechanism compartment I2 operates mechanism for releasably locking the gear 95 and hence the cylinder I1 and its carrier I8 against rotational movement when these parts are in the starting position.

Four projector units U are provided, disposed respectively at points near the four corners of a plate 21 on the cylinder IT in the starting position. These units are adjustable longitudinally of the cylinder and circumferentially thereof, and the construction of-the several units and of the several mounting means therefore is identical.

Identical bracket plates H4 are respectively secured to the mechanism compartment I2 on opposite sides of the machine. Each bracket plate II l carries two aligned integral guides H5 and I I6, each of which carries one of the projector unit support slides which slidably engages its guide. Each slide III is adjustably movable longitudinally of its guide by a screw I I8 threadedly engaging an upwardly extending portion of the slide. A hand knob I9 is provided to operate the screw IIB. Each slide II! is frictionally seated against the bottom of its guide by shoulder screws H9 passing through a guide slot I20 and carrying spring washers I2I. A clamp screw I22 also extends through a guide slot I20 and is employed to clamp the slide I IT in its ad'- justed position. A scale 20 is secured to the guide I IE or IIB of each projector unit and is employed in conjunction with an index mark 2I on the slide I I! to move the projector unit to a predetermined longitudinal seating.

An arcuate rack segment I23 is fixed to and extends upwardly from each slide II'I along an arc concentric-with the plate carrying cylinder. As best shown in Fig. 3, the rack segments I23 are sufficiently spaced radially outward from the cylinder IT to permit the cover II to be opened and closed without contact with these segments. With this arrangement, the racks and the projector units carried thereby need not be moved when the machine cover is opened and closed forthe removal and replacement of a plate.

Each projector unit U is carried by a bracket B which is in turn slidably adjustable along one of the rack segments I23. As best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, each bracket B includes two parts 60 and 6| which embrace the segment I23 in a passage formed between these parts. A friction plate or gib 62 within this passage is pressed against the inner edge of the segment I23 by springs 63 carried by hollow screws 64. The gib 62 provides suflicient friction to prevent movement of the bracket B along the segment I23 by gravity. A locking screw 65 having a knob 66 is threaded in the part 50 and is used to clamp and lock the bracket 13 in its adjusted position on the segment I23. The segment I23 carries an arcuate rack 6! secured in a groove in its outer edge, and the rack is engaged by a pinion 6 8 fixed to a shaft 69 journaled in the bracket part SI. By rotation of a knob 50 on the shaft 69, a bracket B: may beeadiustably movedlup, and down th segment? |2.3. thus, moving. the nroj ector. unit-111 circumferentially,-of.-and concentric to thesurface onthe plate.-.-2-7 on-the, cylinder-:11.-

Thelprojectm', u-nit .U includesalamn-housm 5.! .andaprojectortube :52 secured-thereto; This unitriseclamped-to the bracket 13 byg-a yoke-54-and ascrew 55 As shown in Eig. 6,:a projeetionwlamp Side-disposed in .the-lamnhousing ,51 with its filament aligned with theeaxis. of; the;tuh e :52 which hassan'opening 51 in its innerend; The inner lensiaof the projection tube-52, has-cross .lhairs; etched thereon as showninil f'ig 5... The. outer lens 41 ie-held in place-by a-retaineering 48. The lenses-project a register image 49, of the cross. hairs 5'9..-onto thers-urface ofa platen, and this image; may be madento register; with. a register mark 13.6on. theplateasshownin Fig. '7. Asia customary inv plates 'forcelor printin ,v four; regiss. tor-marks .35 are-cast. oir'otherwise formed ad jacentlthe fourcorners-of eachplaterat positions which; are; fixeda'elativeto, the cuts and; printed matter on. the lates.

Bower for energizing: the; lamps 5 6 ofr theaproe jector-units U isacarrieslfrom-outlets 3,?! onthe mechanism compartment l2tto the, units by flexiblewahlesfifla (Fig; 1) A. .switoh.2 3,: onthe front of; the-.- mechanism. compartment controls. the energization; of. the projectonunit: lamps.

The plate stop mechanism in conjunotionwith thezstop. 29 locatesthe plate 2'! on: the cylinder I]: beiore; the plate is-moved into registry; As shown.in:.Figs. 2,.7, 8, 9 and 11,,a. bracket 8,8 is secured by screws fil'to theouterrim 0f? the Sta-1 tionary internal gear 93;: and the adjacent disc 88:;that supports this gear, AZ slide 8:6 is sunported-zinia recess in the bracket 8.6 and; a central longitudinal slot 81 isxproyid'edizin this, slide. A block 18,.fixed tothebraclret BBlbyza. screwflfliand'. apin 89. engages theslide slot: 8 A'. coiled com..-

pressedspring 90' is; disposed. in-the: slot 8] be:-

tweenthe block larandthe' right. hand-send of the slot; as viewed in Figs. Sand-11; thusurging the slide 89: towardthearight; The. slidezfifl. held in-the recess-of the bracket 8.61.105 a. cover platefifip. and aplat stoptfiis secured-tothe inner. end of;

the slide 89 by:the screws 91; A roller-98 18513.0?

tatablysecured to the lower face *of' theslidBzBfl at:

its outer end hy a. screw-stud 59; cam I Mi is fixed-to the innerface of; the sear. fleshy; a. screw The roller-efivrests on the-cam .l flmwhenthe I01; cylinder I1 is in the starting position,

After plate Zi'is securedito thezcylinder I11 1 with,

one of its side edges. abutting thebar stop 219.".andl one of its end edges abutting the stop 96.; axial adjustment of: the plate 2731s obtainedby} a movement of the; cylinder l1" and. theearrier l8, and? the: gears 95iand as move axially in unison, with. theoylinder: andits carrier. Ciroun'ifere-ntial'.ad justment' is obtained by turning the cylinder- H? relative to the carrier I8; the gears 95 and93iand the plate stop-9'6: After-theplate has-been ad;-.. justably moved to the desired position; the cylin der- Wand carrier H3 are rotatedto trim the plateby means ofthe crank 503., and during the initial rotary movement of' the gear 951 which turns the cylinder H, the cam it'd moves away from. the roller: 98 and the plate stop slide as is: moved" r til-Ont.

The; registering and trimmin operations? Gil,

outwardby the spring aiii'soithat the-plate stop 9.6:

clearsutlrie, end edge of the plate. binding between the plate edge and the stop.9fi: durine: continued rotation of tothe trimmingzoneration.

In operation of; the improved: apparatus; with.

the carer H, open. a; nrinting: plate; 28: which.

This prevents:

the plate incident seryesiastthakey platesofgtheseverai plates make nst nia set-for; color-m n ins .isssecuredtozthe cylinden- H with oneoi. its, ideedses; income-ct with. he; bar: stop 29;- ndeon of; itsendmdeesm contact.withthe -stog-i The; cylinder; I]; is locked: inv its starting position at this;v timer, the cylinder locking mechanism beinee'Q-Vernedrbn hezhandle: I02: 111:: he manner; explained in th natentzabove.referreditoi, One of; the projector units U. maybe: longitudinally adjustediby operas tion of. its bracket; screw- H 8. to. a predetermined position. indicated by; thescale '20.; and thexcy'lins denl 1 ;-is then; iongitudinallyqadiustedby.v the hand wheelil-t until the register-marks isrzinanproxia mate: alignment. circumferentially; of. the. plate withitheproieetedimage.49 from. the preesetzpro jjectcn-unitz. Then all of the four. projector. units are: adiustahiy" moved; by their adjusting: screw llazand pinions fiflqto positions where theimages 4%: that: they project; arev respective-1y exactire istry with the, corresponding register marks: 3:6; adjacentzthefour; corners vof the plate. Theprojector units: are; locked. in these initial posit tions. by: tightening; the: clamp. SCIGWSr I20v and: The-.oover-"ll iswthen closed; themeohanism. unlocked-by operation ofr'the handle E 9.2 and with: thelcutters=l2andTk rotating, the cylinder I1 and: carrier I82 are rotated by the cranlt- M3 through almost a full revolution, thus trimming the two endedges offthe plateandoneof its side edges. The cylinder II is returned'toits starting positionby the crank- I03 where it .-is'-locked by=- the-mechanism operated byrthe handle lll'l. The cover I l isopened and'thekeyplatei l is r'emoved from the machine.

One oftheother plates of the'set is then se oured to the cylinder-in contact-with the stops- 29- am}; 96-. The-new-plate isadjustablymoved longitudinallyby; thev hand wheel mandicircumferentially. by the hand; wheel; 5.3 until; its

register; marks, atare. respectively. in. exact Jregisetry with the images 452' projected from the col.- resn ndin nroiector units. ontothe niatesurface. The cover 'iljis closedand thesecondnlatais.

trimmed. as. was the, first. of. the. set. are. re i tered, and. trimmed. n turn;,

the four.- proiectoi: uni s.- U r maining; looked:- in;

their. initial set positions throughout this onera-e cimsiderabiysimplified.fand; theraceuracywofz platez registry is; improved: by the use: of: the above: den-- scribed: mechanism: of the present inventions Since. the projector units are. carried by: arcus atemeans concentriewi'th the plate surface; the images: protested by the projector units remairn. in; focus-on the plate surface in all positions of:

the; projector units. The projection ontheregls ter images permits the disposal? of-thesproj'eetorunits out oi -the path of the machinecover'so that: theposition of these units need not; be dis...

turhed during the registryand trimming of tha several.snccessiveplates makingup the set; Pro.

- jection of the. registered image prevents error The due to parallax: in the setting of the plate.- improved end: plate stop: simplifies initiai' tioninz; of the plate air-thecylinder;

Weclaimt: 1'. A curved stereotype plate registering: and; trimming machine comprisingea meehanism coms;

posiinartn'rent'; plate a carrying.- snpnort in s'aid 1 come-1 partment; means for. securing: a curved stereo:- tzme. plate to. said: nnort; pluralitn or n'roiee torrunitstfixed to spacedpointsof said eompartsj- The. rem ining plates ment each including means for projecting an image of a mark onto a plate-on said support, means for moving said plate support relative to said compartment, means for adjustably movingeach of said projector units relative to said compartment and means in said compartment for trimming said plate.

2. A curved stereotype plate registering and trimming machine comprising a mechanism compartment, a plate carrying support in said compartment, means for securing a curved stereotype plate to said support, a cover hingedly secured to said compartment over said plate carrying support and movable to an open position to expose said support, a plurality of elongated upwardly extending projector unit supports mounted at spaced points on said compartment adjacent but outside the path of movement of said cover, a projector unit carried by each of said elongated supports and including mean for projecting an image of a mark onto the surface of a plate on said plate support when said cover is open, means for adjustably moving said units along said elongated supports, means for independently adjustably moving said several supports on said compartment, means for moving said plate support relative to said compartment and means in said compartment for trimming said plate.

' 3. In a curved stereotype plate registering machine, in combination, a fixed support, a cylinder for supporting a curved stereotype plate mounted on said fixed support, means for moving said cylinder relative to said support, a plurality of elongated arcuate projector unit supports carried by said fixed support at spaced points thereon and extending concentric to said cylinder, a projector unit carried by each of said arcuate supports including means for projecting an image of a mark onto the surface of a plate on said cylinder and means for adjustably moving said projector units along said arcuate supports.

4. A curved stereotype plate registering and trimming machine comprising an elongated mechanism compartment, a plate carrying cylinder mounted in and extending longitudinally of said compartment, means for moving said cylinder relative to said compartment, a plurality of elongated arcuate projector unit supports mounted at spaced points on said compartment and extending concentric to said cylinder, a projector unit carried by each of said arcuate supports and including means for projecting an image of a mark'onto the surface of a plate on said cylinder, means for adjustably moving said projector units along said respective arcuate supports and means for adjustably moving said supports on said-mechanism compartment longitudinally of said cylinder. v

A-curved stereotype plate registering and trimming machine comprising an elongated open topped mechanism compartment, an elongated cover hingedly secured to said compartment adjacent one end thereof, a plate carrying cylinder in and extending longitudinally of said compartment, means for releasably securing a curved stereotype plate to said cylinder, a plurality of elongated arcuate projector unit supports mounted at spaced points on said compartment outside of the path of movement of said cover and extending upwardly from said compartment concentric with said cylinder, a projector unit carried by each of said supports and including means for projecting an image of a mark onto the surface of a plate on said cylinder, means for adjustably moving'said projector units along said supports, means for adjustably moving said supports longitudinally of said compartment, means for rotating said cylinder and means in said compartment for trimming a plate carried on said cylinder when said cylinder is rotated. 6. A curved stereotype plate registering and trimming machine comprising an elongated open topped mechanism compartment, an elongated cover hingedly secured to said mechanism compartment adjacent one end thereof, a plate carrying cylinder mounted in and extending longitudinally of said compartment, means for releasably securing a curved stereotype plate to said cylinder, a plurality of elongated arcuate projector unit supports mounted at spaced points on said compartment outside the path of said cover and extending concentrically with the surface of said cylinder uncovered by said cover, a projector unit including means for projecting the image of a mark onto the surface of a plate on said cylinder slidably mounted on each of said arcuate supports, means on said units and said arcuate supports for adjustably moving said units.

along their respective supports, means for rotating said cylinder in said compartment and means in said compartment for trimming the edges of a plate on said cylinder when said cylinder is rotated.

7. A curved stereotype plate registering and trimming machine comprising an elongated open topped mechanism compartment, an elongated cover hingedly secured to said mechanism compartment adjacent one end thereof, a plate carrying cylinder mounted in and extending longitudinally of said compartment, means for releasably securing a curved stereotype plate to said cylinder, a plurality of elongated arcuate projector unit supports mounted at spaced points on said compartment outside the path of said cover and extending concentrically with the surface of said cylinder uncovered by said cover, a projector unit including means for projecting the image of a mark onto the surface of a plate on said cylinder slidably mounted on each of said arcuate supports, rack and pinion mechanism for moving said projector units along their respective supports, means for adjustably moving the individual arcuate supports on said compartment longitudinally of said cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder and means in said compartment for trimming the edges of a plate mounted on said cylinder when said cylinder is rotated.

8. A curved stereotype plate registering machine comprising a compartment, a plate carrying cylinder mounted in said compartment, a plurality of projector units mounted at spaced points on said compartment adjacent said:;cylinder, each of said units including means for projecting the image of a mark onto the surface of a plate on said cylinder, and adjustable mounting means for each of said projector units including means extending longitudinally of and parallel to the axis of said cylinder and means extending circumferentially of and concentric with said cylinder for permitting independent adjustable movement of each of said units in two directions parallel to the surface of said cylinder.

9. A curved type-forming element registering and trimming machine comprising a mechanism compartment, a support for a curved type-torming element in said compartment, a plurality of projector units fixed to spaced points of said compartment, each including means for projecting an image of a mark on a type-forming element on said support, means for adjustably mov-- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Smith Nov. 17, 1936 Tornberg Jan. 16, 1940 Griner et a1 July 1, 1941 Lundeberg Dec. 30, 1941 Wood et a1 Aug. 18, 1942 Ferger Feb. 13, 1945 Tornberg et a1 Aug. 12, 1947 

